CigEasy Elite: Can't make it work, what am I doing wrong?

[foolofgrace]

I'm brand-new to vaping and just got my first e-cig, the CigEasy Elite, after reading DonDaBoomVape. I've searched this site and the vendor's site, read the instructional manual (which actually isn't that helpful for new vapers, sorry), added liquid to the cartomizer, LEDs light up so it's charged, made sure it's not on standby, but I get nothing on a draw whether I push the button or not. I would call the vendor but they don't put their phone number on their site or packaging.

I know I'm missing something -- can someone please help me? The user's guide says "To open a cartomizer pull off the plastic caps off Each end and pull out the stopper from the metal end." Okay, I got the metal stopper out, but I can't find the plastic caps they're talking about, unless they mean the whistle tip is one.

I don't trust this manual because in one place it says this product is automatic and in another place it says it's manual, and the quoted sentence has errors too, so I mean no disrespect but I don't know if it's the manual or my faulty understanding. I write user manuals for a living for IBM, so I'm not just a disgruntled whiner.

Can someone who is familiar with vaping and/or this product PLEASE help me? I can't wait to get started. I have to light an analog now... Many thanks in advance.

 

[MDethCKR]

Apparently there are no caps, I don't see any in the picture from their website. The caps are a clear/white tinted silicone that sits over each end of the cartomizer to keep them moist.

If it is a manual, there is a button on it. With the cartomizer screwed in, hit the button while holding the whistle tip next to your ear. Do you hear it activating? It will be a sharp noise like a hissing.

 

[Rizzer]

Bad connection you filled the carto before you put it together?
Clean the contacts, also turn the carto upside down and move the connection 45 degrees to the left or right to find that sweet spot.

 

[foolofgrace]

Thank you so much for helping me so quickly! One, I don't hear anything when I press the button as you suggest, so I'm going to charge the battery and see if that helps. Two, I think I might be making a really stupid mistake -- The packaging came with a bottle of juice and a strange little cartridge marked "Chocolate" that DOES have the two white silicone caps. Am I supposed to be putting this thing in the cartomizer somewhere? I didn't order anything marked "Chocolate" so I don't know what the heck this thing is. The user guide didn't say what this thing was or what I should do with it. I'm sure experience vapers already know. Thanks again.

 

[MDethCKR]

The caps are for storage, and should not be in place while using.

At the connector end of the cartomizer, the bottom center 'pin'. Does it look flat across, or is it raised or recessed across the 'shell' or casing?
^ If the center 'pin' looks like it is lower then the casing of the cartomizer, try taking a paperclip - straighten one end of the paperclip - and gently pull the center pin out just a little bit until it sticks up from the casing.

The cartridge you got, does it have a threaded connector end? If so, it is just an extra pre-filled cartomizer they added for free.

 

[Wuzznt Me]

I'm not familiar with their cartos but I've never seen a piece of metal that had to be removed. Only a plastic stopper that goes up inside the metal. Was it hard to get out? I'm sure someone more familiar will come along soon.

 

[foolofgrace]

Thanks for helping. 1) I filled the carto before I put it together. 2) "move the connection..." I'm sorry to be so stupid, but what connection are you talking about? Maybe what I'm doing wrong has something to do with not removing something I was supposed to; here's what I see on the carto: When I take off the whistle tip, I see some white filler material and in the center is a narrow white tube that can be moved side to side, and you can push the filler/tube thing down if you push. On the other end I see a larger white tube that is recessed from the end. This does not move but it is some sort of rubbery material. Could this be the plastic thingie I'm supposed to remove? I probed it very very gently with a pair of needle-nosed pliers and it seems firmly connected. Thanks again.

Bad connection you filled the carto before you put it together?
Clean the contacts, also turn the carto upside down and move the connection 45 degrees to the left or right to find that sweet spot.

 

[MDethCKR]

Yes, remove the plastic thingie. I thought you had the cartomizer screwed onto the battery already

 

[foolofgrace]

Okay, I pulled out that plastic thingie. When I hold the carto up to the light I can see thru to the other end, so there's one problem solved. Thanks.

Still no action on draw, though... I'm going to plug it in the charger and check it later. Thanks so much.

Yes, remove the plastic thingie. I thought you had the cartomizer screwed onto the battery already

 

[Rizzer]

This is what you have?
It connects without issue?
I don't use the smaller ones sorry you would be better off with the others answers.

 

[Zombitedesade]

Take off anything silcone / rubber like. They are the 'condoms' of the cartomizer, designed to keep them moist if already filled or hygienic if empty, they can also be used to fill an empty cartomizer using the 'condom method' hence the name. They are a tight fit, but should slide off with ease really.

On one end should be a metal threaded area, this is to be threaded into the battery securely. On the other end should be a mouth piece. Usually a small White rubber like plastic cap, you should be able to prize this off with ease with tweezers or a paperclip.

Inside you'll see a central hole and surrounding this a white polyester wool. The wool area is where you need to fill up with e-liquid. DO NOT FILL THE CENTRAL HOLE. if you do, liquid will simply pour out the battery end and go everywhere, worse still if your battery is automatic it could wreck it.

Pour your juice down the metal sides of the cart onto the filler holding the cart at a slight angle (45 degrees ish) turn the cart a couple of times to ensure you fully cover the White wool. Once the wool looks wet and liquid starts to pool it's full and ready to use. Blow out any excess fluid by blowing firmly on the battery threaded end and cover the mouth area (where you removed the White cap) into a paper towel or similar.

Place White cap (or drip tip if you have one) back onto the cartomizer, screw battery end into, the battery and you are good to go. If there is a switch at all on the battery it's a manual battery. If there isn't, it's an automatic.

If you want, I can tell you about the condom method, but try this first. If you got a cartomizer labeled 'chocolate' I suspect it's already filled and shouldn't need filling until it's been vaped and is empty. Try it and see.

 

[foolofgrace]

The kit came with one carto already installed and four others in a box. The chocolate thingie is not threaded, it came in a baggie with the liquid; on one end it has the metal plug like the threaded cartos, and the other end is covered with a white plastic disc that has a hole in the middle. I'm guessing that this is some sort of flavoring addition that is supposed to fit inside the threaded carto somehow. Once I get this setup working, I'll probably be able to figure it out. Whew! I feel like a little kid on the day before Christmas!

The caps are for storage, and should not be in place while using. ... The cartridge you got, does it have a threaded connector end? If so, it is just an extra pre-filled cartomizer they added for free.

 

[foolofgrace]

No, that's the "Easy", I have the "Elite". I don't know how to post a pic yet but it's at THE ELITE 808

It seems to connect fine. Thank you for helping narrow down the problem, we'll get there eventually...

This is what you have?
It connects without issue?
I don't use the smaller ones sorry you would be better off with the others answers.

 

[foolofgrace]

Thank you for taking the time to share this detailed information. My wool is very saturated but not dripping, and I didn't get any in the tube.

On a whim I tried the other battery end in the kit and still no vapor. The manual didn't say to take anything off of the battery part, but on the end that connects to the atomizer part there is what looks like a metal plug similar to the one on the atomizer part. It has a recessed line on the top just like on a regular screw. I wonder if I'm supposed to take this out? I probed it gently and it doesn't move easily but it would probably come out if I tried harder, I just don't want to destroy a battery.

Take off anything silcone / rubber like. ...

 

[MDethCKR]

Yes, do not unscrew that part of the battery. Check my other post, about raising the contact post. It will be the part of the cartomizer that makes contact with the flat head part of the battery.

The carto will 'fire' with or without liquid in it, so something isn't making contact :/

And the chocolate thing is an extra cartomizer they threw in. Try screwing that onto your battery and see what happens?

 

[foolofgrace]

OMG! Dingdingdingding!!! You're a genius! Can you answer the additional bonus question below?

Okay, I screwed the chocolate thing onto the battery and it works! The button makes a click when I press it, and I get vapor when I draw on the little chocolate thing! However, now I have a battery with a chocolate thing screwed onto it, and I don't know what to do with the atomizer part (the tube with the wool stuff) and its whistle tip. They don't seem to fit anywhere with the chocolate thing screwed in. Okay, I realize there's no actual question there, but there's nothing behind door number 3 either, so there goes that metaphor. Ideas? And thank you so much!

And the chocolate thing is an extra cartomizer they threw in. Try screwing that onto your battery and see what happens?

 

[MDethCKR]

They are the same part/unit. If you pop the whistle tip off, you can put that white piece on them - they are one in the same.

So, aside from some trial and error, unscrew the chocolate carto, and compare it to the other cartomizers you have. I really don't know why it isn't working without somebody more in the know describing the situation.

If you are still having issues, check into articles/youtube videos of 'raising the center post'. Also, I'd contact the vendor via email or ticket if their website is set up for them.

Vaping can be a headache at first, but it is worth the effort

 

[foolofgrace]

Semi-success! I tried a different atomizer without removing what I thought (from the manual) was the "plug", and it works!

I think the manual needs some editing, which I would be happy to do for them since it's what I do for a living anyway, but at least I've got it working. It has cost me one atomizer thingie (I tried to put that "plug" back in but no go) and the fluid I used to fill it, but I guess it's part of the learning curve.

I still don't know how to attach the "chocolate" carto thing to the atomizer part, though, and I hope someone can help me figure this out -- I didn't think I'd care for those flavors but now that I've had a couple of hits of the chocolate (though without benefit of the atomizer part that had I had dripped liquid into, or the whistle tip), I think I like it.

Big thank-yous to everyone who helped me out so generously and quickly. What a great forum! I feel like I'm in the parking lot waiting to go in to hear the Dead!

 

[Wuzznt Me]

If you screwed the carto with the whistle tip on tightly before you took out the plastic plug you may have pushed the part in the carto up to far to make contact. Try sticking a paper clip in and wiggling it in a downward fashion. Since the chocolate carto works and the other one doesn't it's a pretty good indication it's not making contact with the center battery contact. There is another possibility that you have a bad carto. Better than a bad battery in my opinion.

 

[Wuzznt Me]

You posted last while I was typing. In my earlier post that's what I thought might have happened. The Elite Cartos seem to be a lot larger than standard ones. Just a guess but the one with the chocolate is probably a freebe they threw in of a standard carto. Look at the photos of standard ones someone else posted and see if they look like your chocolate one. I'm glad you got it working and hope you enjoy it. I plan to buy an Elite one day when I'm flush.